novelraw Chapter 582: Provoking “Misfortune”
Chapter 582: Provoking “Misfortune”
At 6:00 a.m., the alarm clock rang punctually.
Yao Lingling stretched out a hand from under the covers, skillfully turned off the reminder on her phone screen,
and muttered to herself, “Time to get up~”
She rubbed her eyes and pulled back the quilt to sit up.
The deep autumn air carried a distinct chill that made the exposed skin on her body break out into tiny goosebumps.
She instinctively tugged at the collar of her pajamas, shivered, and the lingering drowsiness was completely driven away by the cold.
Quickly unlocking her phone, her fingers deftly swiped across the screen.
She searched, confirmed, and then opened the pinned WeChat chat window.
On the screen, the cursor danced lightly.
[Lingling: “Good morning, handsome! Today is October 30th, Monday. In Hong Kong, it will be cloudy turning clear, temperature 20 to 26 degrees Celsius. Outfit recommendations as follows.....”] After sending the message, she put down the phone, a satisfied smile curling at the corners of her lips.
When something becomes a habit, it gradually becomes a kind of emotional support, always feeling that this way, she gets a little closer to him.
Besides, Tang Song would reply every day, chatting with her for a while.
She changed into workout clothes, went to the living room, and turned on the ceiling light.
Yao Lingling laid out her yoga mat, set up her tablet opposite her, and opened the saved “Advanced Glute and Leg Training Course.”
Single-leg Romanian deadlifts, resistance band squat sprints, weighted glute bridges, high knees followed by burpees...
In the living room, only the increasingly rapid sound of her breathing and the dull thuds of her body hitting the floor remained.
Sweat quickly soaked the wisps of hair on her forehead, trickling down her cheeks. The aching soreness in her muscles and the burning sensation of sweat made her grit her teeth, yet she felt an exhilarating satisfaction.
After finishing her workout, she took a shower.
Back in her bedroom, she walked briskly to her desk and picked up a clothing design sketch.
Looking at the sleek lines and rich details of the jacket on the paper, her eyes lit up brilliantly.
This was her first piece at Songmei Apparel, finally completed.
After a long period of accumulation and trial, plus the infusion of a vibrant, lively inspiration moodboard she saw on Wen Ruan that day,
she finally found what she had been searching for all along: a kind of sleekness, freedom, and urban female power — a “soul.”
She had spent nearly the entire weekend holed up, immersed in the world of creation, and at last finished the final work.
This was not only her first design at Songmei Apparel but also her very first “signature” as a designer in a true sense.
From integrating inspiration, confirming the core elements of the collection, hand-drawing sketches, selecting fabrics and accessories, to the final pattern making, every step was done independently by her.
She was filled with unprecedented confidence in her work.
“Ding dong—” the WeChat notification sound rang.
Yao Lingling picked up her charging phone and immediately smiled brightly.
[Tang Song: “I’ve already changed according to your outfit advice. No wonder you’re a professional fashion designer, awesome.”]
[Tang Song: selfie.jpg]
Opening the photo, Yao Lingling blushed and her heart raced looking at Tang Song’s handsome face, his eyes shining like stars.
Her cheeks involuntarily flushed as her fingers flew quickly over the screen.
She replied, “Wow, senior, you’re so handsome, super elite style, haha.”
[Tang Song: Look at yours (sticker)]
Yao Lingling bit her lip, hurriedly opened the wardrobe, grabbed a thicker bra, then a pair of hip-lifting pants, and quickly changed.
She stood in front of the mirror and smiled to herself.
Her efforts had not been in vain — her waist-to-hip ratio was now nearly perfect. Wearing tighter pants, she would attract many glances on the street,
and even inside Yunxi Building, she was occasionally approached by admirers.
She took a deep breath, picked up her phone, adjusted the angle, and confidently took a full-body photo to share.
After waiting a moment,
“Buzz buzz buzz—”
[Tang Song: (Like) Not bad, your figure is really good, training marks are clear, it’s obvious your core strength is stable. Keep it up.]
Yao Lingling’s lips curved into a big smile. She replied, “I feel like I’ve hit a plateau. Senior, you’re a fitness expert now, can you give me some tips when you have time?”
[Tang Song: “No problem, once I get back to Yancheng.”]
Yao Lingling instantly felt a burst of sweetness.
Then her heart skipped a beat as she glanced at the design sketch on the desk, a daring thought quietly rising.
Biting her lip, she slowly typed: “By the way, senior, my first piece is done and will enter sample production today. It will definitely be on sale before Double Ten. This is my *heart and soul* work;
if it sells well, shouldn’t the boss give me a reward? (#wink)”
[Tang Song: “So soon? Impressive. You’re our company’s only designer, and this is Songmei Apparel’s first truly meaningful piece. If the initial GMV for this jacket exceeds 2 million yuan, I’ll double your performance bonus and year-end bonus!”]
A single item breaking 2 million yuan GMV is definitely a huge hit at Songmei Apparel.
Yao Lingling’s performance was linked to commissions and included tiered bonuses for hit products, and the year-end bonus was at least three months’ salary.
This doubling meant a substantial salary increase, enough for her to buy a decent car.
After struggling for a moment, Yao Lingling mustered her courage and replied: “(#playful) Forget the money, so my coworkers don’t get jealous. How about this, senior: if the GMV can break 4 million, will you fulfill a wish for me?”
“Buzz buzz—”
[Tang Song: “Looks like Lingling’s confident. Sure, no problem!”]
Yao Lingling took a deep breath, her eyes shining brilliantly.
She was indeed confident. As a professional fashion designer, she had a deep understanding of the market and knew how excellent her jacket was.
Most importantly, Double Eleven shopping festival was coming soon, and with He Yiyi’s rising popularity,
she was confident in creating a blockbuster hit.
As for that wish...
Yao Lingling bit her lip, a shy blush rising on her face.
...
8:10 a.m.
Yunxi Building, Songmei Apparel.
“Morning, Brother Zhang.”
“Morning.”
Yao Lingling carried her tote bag, walking into the office with light steps.
The morning office area felt somewhat quiet, with only a few scattered figures busy at their desks.
Soon after, a sexy silhouette came into view.
A white tight-fitting base shirt paired with high-waist jeans perfectly outlined her graceful curves, making her stand out.
A bright smile blossomed on Yao Lingling’s face. “Qiuqiu, good morning!”
Hearing the greeting, Cheng Qiuqiu stopped and turned around, a hint of softness appearing on her usually cold face. “Lingling, morning.”
Before she finished speaking, Yao Lingling, like an enthusiastic little bird, cheerfully flew over and gave her a tight hug.
“Two days without seeing you, I missed you so much! Wow, you smell so good.”
Cheng Qiuqiu stiffened slightly, her expression a bit unnatural.
She still wasn’t used to such intimate physical contact.
Of course, there was one exception.
After a brief chat, Yao Lingling pulled her to get coffee and discuss recent design issues.
Back at her desk, Cheng Qiuqiu sipped the warm coffee quietly, but a subtle and almost undetectable trace of longing flickered in her eyes.
She hadn’t seen Tang Song for several days now.
The scenes from the Bamboo Stream community kept uncontrollably flooding her mind, stirring strange ripples in her heart.
Even though she knew about his relationship with the senior, she couldn’t help but want to be near him, to miss him.
She sighed softly, opened her computer, and poured her chaotic thoughts into work.
Tang Song’s “Brand Cultivation” plan on Xiaohongshu was still heating up, with the next phase being “Brand Express Packaging Selection.”
She had completed three sets of packaging designs with different styles and now needed to organize them into beautiful images for Tang Song to post on Xiaohongshu notes.
This cultivation series was currently very popular, with enthusiastic discussions under every post.
During work breaks, she habitually opened the “April” fan group, intensely lurking and occasionally replying.
The group owner “Su Yu’s April” was also very active, tirelessly campaigning for her choices.
Cheng Qiuqiu had chatted many times with her and clearly felt that she was a hardcore “April” fan who knew Su Yu very well.
This gave her a sense of kinship;
the two had now added each other on WeChat and often communicated.
She was one of her few internet friends.
“Buzz buzz buzz—” her phone suddenly vibrated.
[Mom]
Cheng Qiuqiu’s previously relaxed brows twitched instinctively.
After hesitating for a moment, she held her phone and walked to a corner by the window.
Taking a deep breath, she pressed the answer button.
“Hey, Qiuqiu, what are you busy with?” On the other end, her mother Li Meihua’s thick Sichuan accent sounded.
“Working.” Cheng Qiuqiu’s voice was as cold as ever, emotionless.
“Oh, have you eaten?”
“Yes.”
Li Meihua asked a few questions about her health and workload.
Cheng Qiuqiu replied briefly and calmly, almost indifferently.
“You’re busy with work, but I’m free lately and want to go live in Yancheng for a while to take good care of you, alright?”
“Don’t come!”
After a brief silence, Li Meihua’s tone suddenly became probing, “I’m asking you, Qiuqiu, honestly tell me, do you have a boyfriend?”
Cheng Qiuqiu’s fingertips tightened on the phone;
her heart felt a sharp stab.
“No.” Her voice was cold. “Who told you? Brother Junfeng?”
“Oh, no one told me! It’s just that I keep having this dream these days, and you won’t let me go to Yancheng, so I’m guessing.” Li Meihua’s tone suddenly turned urgent. “I’m telling you, Qiuqiu, you’re alone out there, keep your eyes open, got it?”
Cheng Qiuqiu’s expression darkened, silent.
The voice on the other end became more urgent, like a rapid-fire barrage: “There are many scheming guys out there! You’re innocent and look good, don’t get fooled! Especially those who sweet-talk you, full of bad intentions.”
“Mind your own business!”
“What?!” Li Meihua’s voice sharpened. “What kind of attitude is that? I’m your mom! If I don’t care about you, then who will? I worked so hard to raise you—”
“Beep beep—”
Cheng Qiuqiu hung up directly, her hand holding the phone trembling slightly.
Her face was pale, her chest heaving violently.
It was always like this! Always like this!
Her psychological and physical problems were not only caused by her mother-in-law’s death;
this so-called mother also inflicted indelible psychological wounds.
From childhood to adulthood, she barely cared about her but constantly interrogated, scrutinized, and criticized her under the pretext of “for your own good.”
Since she went to university, although her mother seemed to have changed a lot, her controlling nature had never truly disappeared.
Above her head, the [Dream Blooming Seed] emitted a rich green light, shaking violently.
...
Yangcheng.
The crowded subway Line 1 slowly stopped at Nongjiang Station, the doors opened.
Zhang Yan tightly hugged her backpack to her chest like an inconspicuous water droplet, merging into the surging crowd and being pushed out of the carriage with the flow.
After wandering around the station for a while, she exited and was greeted by the city’s unique hustle and bustle, mixed with exhaust fumes and food aromas.
She walked north for about five or six minutes and finally arrived at the Huiming Building, where her company was located.
Every morning, she spent more than 40 minutes commuting.
The building was an ordinary office tower, appearing somewhat outdated amid the surrounding skyscrapers.
Shucheng Technology was on the 7th floor, occupying just over 300 square meters.
The most eye-catching feature inside was a partition bookshelf neatly stacked with books the company had published or promoted in recent years.
On one side of the shelf was the boss’s closed office door;
on the other side was a cramped open office area divided by low partitions.
Zhang Yan walked to her workstation, took a cloth from her drawer, carefully wiped the desktop, and watered the stubborn green philodendron in the corner.
Only then did she begin working with her head down.
At 10 a.m., the office was filled with the sound of keyboards clicking in succession.
A short and chubby figure hurried out from the boss’s office and stopped by her desk.
“Zhang Yan,” the slick voice of leader Bai Rui sounded, “how’s the draft for the recommendation of ‘Whale Fall Sea’? The channels are waiting anxiously.”
Zhang Yan’s shoulders instinctively hunched;
she quickly switched the document window to the front. “I’m adjusting the last few paragraphs of the ending. It’ll be done soon.”
The company had few copy editors, and everyone was overloaded with complicated tasks.
She had just returned from a business trip a few days ago, and this draft was finished by sacrificing her entire weekend, working overtime.
“Okay, good. Submit it to the backend first, and I’ll pre-review it.”
Looking at Bai Rui’s round face, Zhang Yan hesitated, “Brother Bai...”
Lulu had gone for an interview this morning and specially asked her to find an opportunity to ask the leader when last week’s business trip expenses would be reimbursed.
Since it was already the end of the month, if they couldn’t submit the receipts in the next two days, the reimbursement would be delayed until the month after next.
By then... maybe the company would be bankrupt.
“What’s up?” Bai Rui’s gaze swept over, impatience showing in his brows.
Zhang Yan’s fingers rubbed tightly under the desk, her voice unconsciously lowering, “It’s about Lulu’s and my business trip last week.”
“Oh, that.” Bai Rui immediately interrupted, waving it off. “The draft from your trip isn’t urgent. Just give it to me by the 3rd of next month.”
After speaking, he turned and walked out without looking back.
Zhang Yan’s lips parted, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes, but she said nothing more and continued working with her head down.
Near noon,
Zhang Yan had just come out of the bathroom when she saw Lulu hurrying over from the elevator.
“Lulu, how did it go over there?”
“Come, let’s talk over there.” Lulu grabbed her arm and pulled her into the smoke-filled stairwell without asking.
Leaning against the wall, Lulu’s eyes gleamed excitedly, and her tone was full of longing. “The office environment at Xingyun International Group is amazing! It’s a totally different world from here! The interviewer was super nice, smiling the whole time, very polite, no airs at all...”
Zhang Yan listened quietly, not interrupting her friend’s excitement.
“But...” Lulu’s enthusiasm waned slightly, and her tone became a little discouraged, “The competition is fierce. There were four people in my batch;
everyone seemed stronger than me, even a 985 top graduate. I guess I don’t have much hope.”
“It’s okay,” Zhang Yan comforted softly, “just having the chance to interview is already great.”
Lulu nodded, then looked at her. “Zhang Yan, what about you? Any plans?”
Small companies like Shucheng Technology had very low risk resistance and no irreplaceable core business.
The entire book publishing and sales industry was increasingly bleak, and the company’s decline was visible to the naked eye. The atmosphere in the office was unstable;
everyone was preparing early for themselves.
Zhang Yan pressed her dry lips together, leaning against the wall like Lulu, lowering her head. “I... haven’t decided yet.”
“You should decide sooner rather than later. Actually, I think finding a reliable boyfriend and staying in Yangcheng isn’t bad, especially since Auntie is here too.” Lulu paused, then suddenly leaned in gossiping, “Honestly, Zhang Yan, I’ve been wanting to ask, do you like someone?”
Zhang Yan’s gaze obviously flickered, her cheeks reddened quickly, and she hurriedly shook her head, “No...”
“Haha, I knew it!” Lulu teased. “Look, your WeChat and Weibo nicknames are both ‘Breathing in a Smile.’ It’s obviously from Dickens’ line — ‘Only in your smile do I breathe.’ So tell me, whose ‘smile’ is it?!”
Zhang Yan was embarrassed, “It’s... it’s just a random name.”
“Alright, I believe you.” Lulu linked arms with her. “Come on, let’s go eat. Lunch is on me today! You won’t believe it, the Hong Kong stock market soared today, the fund I bought jumped hundreds of yuan in a flash! The comments say it’s due to some major billion-dollar good news...”
Lulu kept babbling about her fund and the stock market beside her.
Zhang Yan’s thoughts had already drifted far away.
She had been in Yangcheng for more than two years and was already 26 this year.
So, where should she go next?
Her mother was doing well in Yangcheng, had formed a new family, had a new daughter, and a stable life, so she didn’t want to interfere much.
Returning to her hometown Dongzhang Village was definitely inconvenient.
Her stepmother’s younger brother had grown up, and the room that once belonged to her no longer existed.
Though her aunt’s family moved to the county seat, that was only a temporary place for her to stay;
once grown, she should leave.
The world was vast, and Huaxia was large.
But indeed, there was no place she could call “home.”
Fortunately, she now had a cat named Juzi, so she wasn’t too lonely.
Unfortunately, she was still too “green,” unable to find a good job, and naturally couldn’t afford a home for herself and Juzi.
If only... she could be as capable as Liu Qingning.
The science top scorer from Jing County, who won tens of thousands in college entrance exam awards, later entered the best university in the Imperial Capital, and after graduating, started her own company, making it thrive.
But she knew clearly she could never compare to Liu Qingning.
She had once tried hard to pursue graduate studies, even ambitiously attempting the Imperial Capital university,
but the harder she pushed herself, the clearer it became how distant that brilliant starry sky was.
However, if she were Liu Qingning, she definitely wouldn’t choose to develop in Deep City.
Definitely not.
2:00 p.m.
Hong Kong, International Finance Centre (IFC) Tower 2, 38th floor, Rongliu Capital headquarters.
The phone at the front desk hardly stopped ringing, and the reception area’s sofas were filled with visitors in suits, all with different expressions.
All the employees in the office were operating at a high-speed, busy pace.
Hurrying along, carrying coffee and thick documents, shuttling between various meeting rooms, the air was filled with a tense yet extremely excited atmosphere.
Shen Yuyan wore her work badge on her chest and smiled with composure and dignity, efficiently receiving guests and guiding them to the corresponding meeting rooms one by one.
Her heart was filled with unprecedented passion and a sense of accomplishment.
Since this morning, visitors to Rongliu Capital had been nonstop.
Among them were even the top management teams of Guyu Biological and Yunxi Real Estate,
whose purpose was equally exciting.
According to the information she obtained, these two giant companies would soon issue a batch of new shares exclusively to Rongliu Capital through private placement.
She suddenly remembered the mysterious “big move” Bai Menglin had mentioned on the phone earlier, which turned out to center on Rongliu Capital.
Moreover, based on the scattered information she had from Tang Song, Rongliu Capital would take this opportunity to strategically invest in a series of enterprises, rapidly expanding its influence throughout the capital circle.
At the very center of this capital storm, Shen Yuyan enjoyed this moment immensely, even feeling deeply intoxicated.
“Shirley.” A slightly amused voice suddenly came from the side.
Shen Yuyan turned to see Lin Muxue walking gracefully toward her.
She held a thick stack of documents and, breaking her usual habit, wore a pair of exquisite gold-rimmed glasses, giving her a strong financial executive aura.
“What’s up, Luna?”
Lin Muxue smiled confidently and mysteriously, “An extremely important guest has arrived. We need to receive them together.”
“Oh?” Shen Yuyan arched an eyebrow and nodded, “Sure, no problem.”
After speaking, she tidied her appearance and followed Lin Muxue out of the reception area.
At the elevator,
Shen Yuyan casually asked, “Luna, who’s the honored guest?”
Lin Muxue glanced at her and said with a smile, “You’ll find out soon.”
Shen Yuyan’s eyes flickered but she didn’t ask further.
About two minutes later,
“Ding—” The elevator stopped at the 38th floor, and the metal doors slid open slowly.
Four people came out in sequence.
Leading was a woman around thirty years old.
Her hair was clipped back, and she wore a well-tailored, high-quality, slightly professional outfit. Her face was stern, makeup flawless, and she radiated a strong ascetic aura born from extreme professionalism and discipline.
The distinguished guest — could this be her? For some reason, Shen Yuyan saw a few traces of Lin Muxue’s daily “show-off” side in her, indeed somewhat similar, but this woman’s aura was more powerful and refined.
While she was pondering, Lin Muxue had already greeted her with a smile like spring breeze, “President Qin, long time no see. Welcome to Rongliu Capital.”
However, the woman called “President Qin” only nodded lightly, her tone flat and calm. “Hello, Assistant Lin.”
Lin Muxue’s smile stiffened, her heart jumped, and an inexplicable unease surfaced.
At that moment, Qin Yingxue’s gaze passed over Lin Muxue and landed on Shen Yuyan beside her.
She showed a gentle smile and extended her hand proactively. “You must be Assistant Shen, right? Hello, I’m Qin Yingxue, representative of the Tangjin Family Office.”
“Ah—” Shen Yuyan’s face flushed immediately. She hurriedly shook the other’s hand, voice a little excited. “Hello, President Qin. I’m Shen Yuyan. It’s an honor to meet you.”
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The weight of this identity was unquestionable.
She had never expected the other party to know her and to take the initiative to greet her.
Lin Muxue’s eye twitched, her heart filled with suspicion and confusion.
She didn’t understand why Qin Yingxue was so cold to her today but so warm to Shen Yuyan.
Suppressing her unease, she stepped aside and said, “President Qin, the meeting room is this way, please.”
“Mm.” Qin Yingxue nodded and stepped in.
Just before reaching the meeting room door, Qin Yingxue suddenly stopped.
She first smiled gently at Shen Yuyan. “Assistant Shen, you and my colleagues prepare the materials inside. I need to have a private word with Assistant Lin.”
“Okay, President Qin.” Shen Yuyan obediently nodded and pushed the door open to enter the meeting room first.
In the corridor, only Qin Yingxue and Lin Muxue remained.
Just moments ago, Qin Yingxue’s face was gentle as spring rain, but the smile instantly vanished, replaced by a cold and scrutinizing gaze.
“President Qin...” Lin Muxue swallowed nervously, her growing unease intensifying, “Please speak.”
Qin Yingxue looked at her calmly and said, “Assistant Lin, I heard you attended the LVMH Group social gala a few days ago. I saw your photos with several Tang Entertainment stars online;
the photos are nice and beautiful.”
“I... um... yes.” Lin Muxue’s heart jumped, her gaze wavering.
Qin Yingxue stepped forward half a step. “As Assistant to President Tang, your identity determines your behavior and, to some extent, represents President Tang’s will.
Being so high-profilely linked with Tang Entertainment and promoting it widely on social media — do you think that’s appropriate?
Also, I’ve seen your personal Douyin and Xiaohongshu accounts;
some of the content is inappropriate.
Lastly, Assistant Lin, your co-branded credit black card is supposed to serve President Tang, but your previous spending seems rather extravagant.”
Lin Muxue’s face suddenly turned pale.
With her emotional intelligence, she naturally understood what Qin Yingxue meant.
If it was only Qin Yingxue, that would be one thing, but... she might be representing Jin Meixiao.
In other words, this might be Jin Meixiao’s way of reprimanding her.
But... why?
Credit card and personal accounts were secondary;
otherwise, Qin Yingxue wouldn’t have been so polite to her on WeChat before.
Her real change in attitude was this meeting.
Could it be... because of Tang Entertainment... Su Yu?
But she clearly remembered Su Yu and Director Jin were still “publicly shipping” online before.
It should be fine for her to be close to Tang Entertainment.
Could she have misunderstood? Between them...
Just as her mind was in turmoil,
Qin Yingxue looked at her changing expression and lowered her voice further, “Director Jin strongly disapproves of some of your recent actions.”
This sentence was like a bucket of icy water drenched from above, pouring down with the harshest law of coldness.
It made the Empress Muxue’s whole body chill and her heart waver.
This plot was off!
Director Jin Meixiao and Su Tian Di appeared to be sisters on the surface, but behind the scenes, dark currents had long been flowing!
She had unwittingly touched the source of the dark turmoil, provoking “Misfortune.”
She might end up with red hair for a long time!!!